The position of the United Kingdom Government has been made clear in another place by my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs on a number of occasions and I would also refer to the statement which I made on the 2nd December, 1943.

The question has been under discussion with the Governments of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, by correspondence, at the meeting of Prime Ministers in May, 1944, and in subsequent meetings with Dominion representatives in London. These discussions related both to the general question of assisted migration
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after the war and to the immediate problem likely to arise on the cessation of hostilities in connection with the resettlement of members of the Armed Forces in civil life. On the latter aspect, the United Kingdom Government have put forward proposals for a free passage scheme for ex-Service men and women and men of the Merchant Navy somewhat similar to that in operation between 1919 and 1922. Under such a scheme, the United Kingdom Government would provide free transport to the port of embarkation overseas while the Dominion Government would provide certain facilities in its own country.

As a result of these discussions, the Dominion Governments and the Government of Southern Rhodesia have authorised the following statements of their attitude and the present position: —